TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 March 1920, Page 4

TELEGRAMS.

Irva i’ll less association.—copyright.) DISASTROUS FLOODS. AUCKLAND, March 28. Loss of life and great damage aro reported from North Auckland as a result of floods. A telegram last night from the Herald’s Paparoa correspondent stated that a drowning disaster had occurred at the Railway Works on the Main Trunk line in the upper Paparoa Valley. A worker named Matthews was camped near the River with his wife and family. The flood suddenly rose and swept away the camp and the wife and their children were drowned. Mathews succeeded in rescuing other members of the family. .Another man sftved himself by clinging to a tree and was rescued after six hours. Another man is still missing. Communication with Paparoa by vehicle is practically blocked by damaged bridges and landslips. Several buildings in the township were flooded to a depth of several feet and in one case a kitchen was washed out of its pisition.

Business is suspended. Enormous damage had been done to roads and bridges. The Auckland coastal shipping lias liad a very rough time and many vessels are sheltering. The weather is now fine and it is hoped that the floods will rapidly subside. SEND KAISER TO SAMOA. WELLINGTON, March 28. Among what may he regarded as one of the curiosities of the Saman trip, is a proposal to intern the ex-Kaiser in Samoa. The author of this scheme is one H. J. Moors, an American citizen, and for many years a resident in Apia, but who is believed to be of German extraction. His idea is that it would relieve everyone of trouble if the Kaiser, or Count Hohonzollem, as lie calls him, liad a portion of bis fortune restored, with which lie should buy out the interest of the New Zealand Government and all others who desired to sell, and then lie could set us business in the Islands, Upoln for choice, where he would be far enough away and powerless for mischief. TRAMWAY DISPUTE. AUCKLAND. March 28. As a result of. a dispute regarding the dismissal of two employees, the tram service was suspended for some hours last night. The trams are running to-day and a conference between the parties lias been sitting all day, with a view to effecting a settlement.

CARPENTERS’ APPLICATION. AUCKLAND, March 28

The Arbitration Court gave a decision this morning in reference to an application by the Carpenters’ Union asking for one big award for the whole of the building trade branches. It was decided that a combined award, under Section 14 only, he made with the consent of all employers. Even, if under the machinery of the Act the trades were declared to he related j the Court would not make a combined Award without the employers’ consent, because it would nullify the intention of conciliation procedure to bring the parties actually affected toge ther.